March 3

Proverbs xxii. — 1. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2. The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.

4. By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.

16. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

22. Rob not the poor because he is poor; neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23. For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

James ii. — 1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5. Hearken, my beloved brethren: Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats?

7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well;

9. But, if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no adultery, yet, if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13. For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Christianity elevates the poor by teaching the equal worth of all men in the sight of God, the equal share of all in the redemption of Christ, the equal right of all to the privileges of worship, and by inculcating upon all the spirit of mutual kindness. The equality taught by the gospel is not socialism: it does not require the equal distribution of property; does not call upon the rich to surrender their possessions indiscriminately to the poor; but it forbids the rich to be haughty and distant toward their poorer brethren, or cold and uncharitable toward any because of their condition. It forbids making worldly circumstances a ground of distinction in the

Church; and sets up God's electing love in spiritual things as the true standard of honor, the true basis of communion.

The law of God is not a string of precepts: it is a principle, a spirit, a unity. It encircles one like a ring of gold. If he steps over it at any point, he goes outside of it, and is a transgressor as really as though he should break it in pieces at every point. Indeed, one breaks this law by the spirit of pride, of envy, of jealousy; by any feeling, which, if carried out into action, would do injury to a neighbor. Only the spirit of love, pervading all our conduct, can preserve intact the pure and holy law.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 11, 53, 63.

May thy good Spirit, O Lord! we pray thee, write in our hearts the things that we have heard out of thy Holy Scriptures, that we may this day walk according to thy word, doing thy will, and showing forth thy praise! We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, and have erred and strayed from thy ways. We confess our sin and folly, and entreat thee for Christ's sake to forgive the errors and iniquities of our past lives, and henceforth to lead us in the way everlasting. Thou hast not dealt with us according to our sins, but hast been patient and long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and mercy. Oh, may thy great love toward us in Christ our Saviour bind us to thee in grateful and loving devotion! May we love supremely the things that thou lovest; love and practise whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report; love the Church

of our Lord Jesus Christ which he hath redeemed with his own precious blood; love our fellow-men, and do them good as thou givest us opportunity; in all things living, not to ourselves, but to Him who loved us, and died for us, and rose again! And do thou, O Lord! hasten the blessed day when thy kingdom shall come, and thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

With thanksgivings for the mercies of the past night and of the opening day, for shelter and repose, for food and raiment, for health and home; with supplications for thy favor and guidance in all that is before us, and for the blessings of thy providence and grace upon all dear to us, — we ask and offer all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; for whom we ever bless thee; to whom, with thee, O Father! and the Holy Ghost, be praise and glory evermore. Amen.